Blade spacer



H.H.MOHL

BLADE S PAC ER April 6, 1943.

'Filed Sept. 19, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 R O T N E V m arolol H.M0lvl Wr- 1x67 ATTORNEYS H. H. MOHL BLADE SPACER April 6, 1943.

Filed Sept. 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 6, 1943.H. H. MOHL BLADE SPACER Filed Sept. 19, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO'RBYHaroZol H. Moll/l I 1 D266 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STBLADE SPACER Harold H. Mohl, Davenport, Iowa, assignor, by mesneassignments,- to The Bettendorf Company, a corporation of MarylandApplication Septel'rrlber 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,518

11 Claims.

This invention relates to spacing devices, and more particularly toadjustable mechanisms for guiding and spacing the cutters of breadslicing machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a spacer of the charactermentioned in which a plurality of elongated guide elements are disposedin substantially parallel side by side relation and are so supported andactuated as to minimize the accumulation of bread crumbs and the likebetween adjacent guide elements and so that the spacing between guideelements can be varied with a minimum of efiort. More specifically, theinvention aims to provide a spacing mechanism in which the guideelements are mounted on a lazy tongs and are wholly supported thereby insuch a manner that when the lazy tongs is expanded and contracted theguide elements move uniformly and simultaneously toward and away fromone another.

The improved spacing mechanism of the present invention contemplates anarrangement wherein the elongated guide elements are disposed in slidingengagement against the underside of a transverse backing member, but aresupported on a lazy tongs which is suspended from blocks mounted forsliding movement along the backing member. The backing member preventsturning of both the guide elements and the lazy tongs, and means is alsoprovided for engaging the ends of the guide elements to resistfrictional .thrusts of the cutters. V

The invention resides in the particular combination and arrangement ofparts. Numerous advantages and improvements will become apparent as thedescription of the invention proceeds, such description being made inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view, with partsbroken away and with parts removed, of a slicing machine of the endlessband type wherein the lower or adjustable blade spacing mechanism isconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the spacing mechanism shownin Fig. 1, with parts removed and taken substantially on the line 2-2 ofFig. v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, showing the centralguide element that is secured against lateral movement;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing thebeveled edge corners of the guide elements;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section and with partsbroken away, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, with parts broken away, takensubstantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away showing amodification of the invention wherein the guide elements are heldagainst longitudinal movement by the lazy tongs;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig.7; and

Fig. 9 is a. sectional detail showing another modification of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference which indicatelike parts throughout the several views, the slicing machine comprises asupporting structure having side frames I and 2 between which arerotatably mounted top and bottom membersor drums 3 and 4, respectively.These drums are parallel. to one another, and trained therearound intwisted and crossed relation are a multiplicity of endless cutters orbands 5. The articles to be sliced, which in this case are bread loaves,one such being indicated at A, are fed into the cutters 5 by me'ans'ofa'conveyor 6 which may be of the well known flight feed type. During thecutting of the loaves A, the latter are confined between a top bladespacing'and guiding mechanism, indicated at I, and between fingers 8 ofthe adjustable spacing mechanism forming the subject matter of thepresent invention.

The top spacer I may be raised and lowered by means of racks 9 andpinions In to adjust the machine for loaves A of different height. Whenthe spacing between the cutters is to be altered, the top spacer l isremov d from the machine so that the cutters or bands 5 can be movedalong the drums 3 and 4 in accordance with well known practice and bymeans of the adjustable spacing mechanism to be described. After theadjustment of the cutters to the desired spacing has been effected, adifierent top spacer and guide having the required spacing between theindividual fingers or slots thereof is mounted in place of the guide Ishown.

Extending between the side frames I and 2 is a cross member II securedto the sideframes by bolts I2. To the underside of the cross member IIadjacent the ends thereof and inside the frames I and 2 are dependingbrackets I5 which hold an elongated backing member or plate I6 disposedtransversely across and in confronting relation to the cutters 5.Beneath the downwardly directed relatively broad surface of the backingmember l6 are disposed a plurality of relatively thin elongated guideelements I1. These guide elements are arranged in parallel side by siderelation to one another and each mounts one of the bifurcated fingers 8that individually receive the runs of the cutters or hands to space andguide the latter. Each of the guide elements I! is formed with anelongated transverse opening of rectangular shape indicated at [8. Theseopenings in the guide elements are aligned with one another and receivea lazy tongs if] to which each of the guide elements is operativelyconnected by a pair of pins 20. Although other forms of lazy tongs maybe employed, the type shown in the co-pending application, Serial No.411,546, filed Sept. 19, 1941, of Arthur A. Kottmann has been foundsatisfactory and is to be preferred. The pins are each secured in one ofthe cross bars of the lazy tongs as by a press fit to prevent endwisemovement of the pins. Elongated slots 21 are formed in the guideelements H to receive the pin Journaled at 24 in the brackets 15 is arotatable rod or shaft 25 which parallels the backing member'l 8 andhasoppositely threaded ends which threadedly receive slide blocks 26. Theseblocks extend through and are guided in elongated openings 21 in thebacking member IS. The centrally disposed ends of extended'bars of thelazy tongs are received in depending clevis portions 28 of the blocks 26and are pivotally connected to the blocks by means of pins 29. The endsof the rotatabl rod '25 are provided with elements 39 having squaresockets '31 to receive the end of a crank (not shown) for rotating therod to move the blocks 26 toward and away from one another in the guideslots 21. In this manner the lazy tongs 19 may be expanded andcontracted to move the guide elements I! simultaneously and uniformlytoward and away from one another, thereby changing thespa'cing betweenthe runs of the cutter bands "5. The movable blocks 26 guided in theslots '2! of the backing member l6 and resting on the latter to besupported thereby, not only serve to actuate the lazy tongs 19 but alsosupportthe lazy tongs-and the guide elements I! carried by the lazytongs.

A thrust member 32, which'maybe-in the form of an elongated bar, isdisposed'across the ends of the guide elements I! opposit the fingers -8and is secured to the backing member by screws 33. This thrust member'32 retains the guide elements in alignment with one another andwithstands the frictional thrusts imposed upon the guide elements by themoving cutters. A loaf supporting plate 34 is disposed across the endsof the guide elements 11 opposite the thrust member 32 and in overlyingrelation to the base ends of the bifurcated fingers '8. The plate 34 isattached to an angularly disposed portion 35 of the cross member II andserves to support the loaves A being fed to the cutter and also toresist endwise thrusts imposed on the guide elements H by the movementof the cutter 5.

At the center of the lazy tongs l9, one of the guide elements, indicatedat l'la, is rigidly secured to the backing member [6 and the thrustmember 32 by means of screws 36. In changing the spacing between theguide elements to alter the spacing between the runs of the cutters 5,the element Ha and the finger 8 associated therewith do not movelaterally but the guide elements I! adjacent the central guide elementIla move toward and away from the latter as do all of the other guideelements in the group. Since the central guide element Ha is rigidlysecured to the backing member l6 and the thrust member 32, it serves asa center support for the lazy tongs l9. Thus, the lazy tongs issupported at three points: the end supports or blocks 26 and the centerguide element l'la. constituting the sole supports for the lazy tongsand themovable guide elements carried thereby.

The rotatable rod or shaft 25 for actuating the lazy tongs is disposedapproximately midway between the longitudinal edges of the backingmember or plate l6 so that the tendency for the frictional drag of thecutters 5 on th fingers 8 to rotate the'guide element ll around theshaft 25 is resisted by engagement between spaced surfaces .3! of thebacking member I6 I "that extend along the ends of the guide elementsi1. These edge portions 31 of the backing member l6 extend beyond theside edges of the lazy tongs 19 even when the latter are fullycontracted. Intermediate portions of the "backing member l6 are removedto provide elongated slots 38 which receive heads 22 of the'gui-deactuating pins 20. Short pins 23 may besecured as by pressfitting in the joints of the lazy'tongs which do not have the longerguide actuating pins'2ll.

As an additional feature of the invention, the edge corners of the guideelements H are removed or-beveled as indicated at 39 sothat bread crumbsand the like will be expressed therefrom when the spacing mechanism iscontracted. The beveled edges "39 along the tops of the guide elementsI! force-crumbs and the like outthrough the openings 38 in the backingmember or plate l6 while the beveled edges 39 along the bottom of theguide elements force crumbs from between the guide elements to dropfreely out of the bottom of the spacer, it being an important feature ofthe present invention that no supporting elements or devices areutilized for the guide elements H that engage the bottom edges thereof,the elements beingwholly supported by the lazy tongs l9.

In Figs. '7 and '8 is illustrated a modification of the inventionwherein a guide rod 42 extends through and has a running or sliding fitin aligned openings 43 in-the ends of the guide elements 1-? to retainthe latter in alignment with one another. A the lazytongs'is expandedand contracted to vary the spacing betw'eenthe guide elements, thelatter 'move along the guide bar E2, the latter being unsupported exceptfor its engagement with the guide elements and being connected by a pin44 to one of the center guide elements. The pin 44 prevents endwiseshifting of the guide bar or-rod.

In this modification of the invention anumber of the guide elements Hare centrally connected by pins 45 to center joints of the lazy tongs59. An elongated groove or channel 45 is formed in the underside of thebacking member or plate iii to receive heads '4"! of the pins 45. Thepins 45 prevent endwise movement of the guide elements I! with respectto the lazy tongs l9 and keep the lazy tongs centered in the slots oropenings l8. Since the lazy tongs thus serve to constrain the guideelements against longitudinal movement, the thrust member 32 -previously described may be omitted.

A further modification of the invention is 'illustrated in Fi 9 andshows an elongated guide bar secured to the underside -of th .backingmember I6 adjacent one edge of the Iatterand receivable in notchesformed in the upper edges of the guide elements l1. This guide bar 50 byengagement with the walls of the notches 5| prevents endwise movement ofthe guide elements l'l, thereby retaining the latter in alignment withone another. In this modification, as in that illustrated in Figs. 7 and8, the thrust member 32 previously described may be omitted.Accordingly, the structure, being open at the ends of the guide elements11, readily frees itself of crumbs and the like so that it is less aptto become clogged and therefore remains clear of foreign material foreasy adjustment.

Thus, the present invention provides a unique spacing device orapparatus in which a multiplicity of narrow elongated guide elements aredisposed in side by side relation and are wholly supported by anexpansible lazy tong that extends through aligned apertures in theelements. The lazy tongs itself is supported only at its ends and in thecenter so that frictional forces developed in the operation of themechanism are minimized and the device may be readily operated with verylittle effort. Furthermore, by beveling the edges of the individualguide elements and also providing apertures or openings inthe backingmember, bread crumbs and other foreign materials are ejected orexpressed from between adjacent guide elements when the spacingmechanism is contracted, thereby avoiding clogging of the parts andreducing friction, which results in smooth operation of the spacer.

' The principles of the present invention may be utilized in variousways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated,substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to asdesired,'it being'unders'tood that the embodiments shown in the drawingsand described above are given merely for purposes of explanation andillustration without intending to limit the scope of the claim to thespecific details disclosed.

' What I claim is:

1. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding thecutters comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guideelements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation andformed with aligned apertures, a lazy tongs extending horizontallythrough the apertures and connected to the guide elements, a memberextending across the guides in confronting relation to the upp r edgesof the latter and in parallelism to the lazy tongs, means extendingthrough said member at a plurality of spaced points and having sup-vporting connection with the lazy tongs, the latter being whollysupported thereby, said guide elements being wholly supported by thelazy tongs whereby the bottom edges of the guide elements areunobstructed to permit bread crumbs to fall freely from between adjacentguide elements, and means for actuating the lazy tongs to expand andcontract the same. i i

2. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding thecutters comprising a member extending transverselyacross the cutters, apair of blocks slidingly mounted on said member for movement toward andaway from one another, a lazy tongs disposed beneath said member andconnected adjacent its ends to said blocks whereby movement of theblocks operates to expand and contract the lazy tongs, a plurality ofelongated guide elements disposed in side by side parallel relation andeach having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, said guideelements separating thetranse verse member from the lazy tongs andhaving in dividual connection with the latter to be actuated thereby,the lazy tongs constituting the sole support for the guideelements-whereby bread crumbs and the like fall freely from betweenadjacent guide elements, and means for actuating the blocks. x

, 3. Ina bread slicing machine having a plural: ity of cutters andactuating means therefor, a

mechanismfpr spacing and guiding the. cuttersv comprising a plurality ofelongated relatively thin guide elements disposed in approximatelyparallel side by side relation and each having finger means for engagingone of the cutters, a lazy tongs extending across the guideelements andmeans for actuating the lazy tongs to ex' pand and contract the same,said guide elements beingindividually connected to the lazy tongs so asto be wholly supported thereby and so as to be moved substantiallysimultaneously and uni.- formly toward and away from one another uponcontraction and expansion of the lazy tongs; and stationary meansslidingly engaging the ends of the guide elements to prevent endwisemovement of the same under the frictional thrusts of the cutters.

v 4. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding thecutters comprising a member extending transversely across the cutters, apair of blocks slidingly mounted on said member for movement toward andaway from one another, a lazy tongs disposed beneath said member andconnected adjacent its ends to said blocks whereby movement of theblocksoperates to expand and contract the lazy tongs, a plurality ofelongated guide elements disposed in side by side parallel relation andeach having finger means for engaging one oi the cutters, said guideelements separating the transverse member from the lazy tongs and havingindividual connection with the latter to be actuated thereby, the lazytongs constituting the sole support for the guide elements whereby breadcrumbs and the like fallfreely frombetween adjacent guide elements, andthe bottom edges of the-guide elements being beveled to express breadcrumbs from between such guide elements as the latter are movedtogether.

5. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding thecutters comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guideelements disposed in approximately paral; lel side by side relation andeach having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, a lazy tongsextending and means for actuating the lazy tongs to expand and contractthe same, said guide elements being individually connected to the lazytongs so as to be wholly supported thereby and so as to be movedsubstantially simultaneously and uniformly toward and away from oneanother upon contraction and expansion of the lazy tongs, and a memberextending transversely across the upper edges of the guide elements,said member having engagement with each guide element adjacent the endsof the latter to prevent turning of the guide elements under frictionalthrusts of the cutters.

6. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a

across the guide elements 4 asisyras mechanismfor spacing and guidingthe cutters comprising an elongated backing member extendingtransversely across the cutters, a pair of threaded blocks mounted onandhaving slidmg engagement with the backing member, a rod havingoppositely threaded ends engaging in said blocks and jou-rnaledforrotation about an axis paralleling the backing member, a lazy tongsconnected adjacent its ends to said blocks wherebyrotation of the rodmoves the blocks toward and away from one another to contract and expandthe lazy tongs, a plurality of elongated guide elements disposed insubstantially parallel side by side relation and wholly supported by thelazy tongs, said guide elements being individuah lyconnected to the lazytongs at a plurality of points whereby all of the guide elements aremoved substantially uniformly and simultaneously toward and away fromone another during expansion and contraction of the lazy tongs and aremaintained in substantial parallelism, and eachguid'e element having alength greater than the width of the contracted lazy tongs and havingbearing engagement with the backing member at a plurality of pointsbeyond both sides of the lazy ton-gs to prevent turning of the guide elemerits and the lazy tongs.

7. In a slicing machine having a supporting structure, a spacercomprising a cross member mounted on the structure, a multiplicity ofguide elements disposed along the underside of the member for slidingengagement therewith, a lazy tongs disposed for expansion and con-traction adjacent the guide elements, each guide element' having connectionwith the lazy tongs at spaced points, a rotatable rod having oppositelythreaded ends mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said memberand extending in the direction of expansion and contraction of thelazytongs, and threaded blocks engaging the threaded rod, said blocksbeing mounted on and extending through the member and having connectionwith the ends of the lazy tongs for actuation of thel'atter uponrotation of the rod.

8; In a slicing machine having a supporting structure, a spacercomprising a cross member mounted on the structure; a multiplicity ofguide eiements disposed along the underside of the member for slidingengagement therewith, a lazy tongs disposed for expansion andcontractionadjacent the guide elements each guide element havingconnection with the lazy tongs at spaced points; a rotatable rod havingoppositely threaded ends mounted for rotation about an axis parallel tosaid member and extending in the-direction of expansion andcontractionof the lazy tongs, threaded blocks engaging the threaded rod,said blocks being mounted on and extending through the member and havingcon--' nection with the ends of the lazy ton-gs for actu at-ionof thelatter upon rotation of the rod, and means connecting one of the guideelements to the member to prevent relative movementtherebetween. V

91 In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding thecutters comprising a plurality of elongated relativelythin guideelements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation andeach having finger means for engaging oneof the cutters, a lazy tilltongs extending across the guide elements and means for actuating thelazy tongs to expand and contract the same, said guide elements beingindividually connected to the lazy tongsso as to"- bewholly supportedthereby and so as to be moved substantially simultaneously and uniformlytoward and way from one another upon contraction and expansion of thelazy tongs, a member extending transversely across the upper edges ofthe guide elements, said member having engagement with each guideelement adjacent the ends of the latter to prevent turning of the guideelements under frictional thrusts oi the cutters, and an elementdisposed in parallel relation to the direction of expansion andcontraction of the lazy tongs and having interfitting sliding engagementwith a plurality of the guide elements to resist relative endwisemovement of the latter.

10; Ina bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, a mechanism for spacing and guiding thecutters comprising a plurality of elongated relatively thin guideelements disposed in approximately parallel side by side relation andeach having finger means for engaging one of the cutters, a lazy tongsextending across the guide elements and means for actuating the lazytongs to expand and contract the same, said guide elements beingindividually connected to the lazy tongs so as to be wholly supportedthereby and so as to be moved substantially simultaneously anduniforrnlytoward and away from one another upon. contraction andexpansion of the lazy tongs, a, member extending transversely across theupper edges of the guide elements, said member having engagement witheach guide element adjacent the ends of the latter to prevent turning ofthe guide elements under frictional thrusts of the cutters, said guideelements being formed with aligned apertures therethr'o'ugh, and anelement extending through said apertures and slidably engaging the guideelements to resist relative endwise movement of the latter.

11. In a bread slicing machine having a plurality of cutters andactuating means therefor, mechanism for spacing and guiding the cutterscomprising an elongated backing member extending transversely across thecutters, a pair of blocks mounted for movement longitudinally of saidbacking member adjacent opposite ends thereof, means for simultaneouslymoving said blocks toward one another or apart, a lazy tongs beneath thebacking member and supported at opposite ends by said blocks, said lazytongs being adapted to be contracted or expanded by movements of saidblocks, and a series of elongated gulde elements disposed side by sidein parallel relation transverse to the line of movement of said'lazy'tongs, each guide element being connected'to said lazy tongs on oppositesides of the longitudinal center line of said lazy tongs, then'ii'cld'l'e guide element of said series being fixed to said backingmember and providing a central support for said lazy" tongs and theother of said guide members being movable and supported wholly by saidlazy tongs, each movable guide element having bearing engagement withsaid member on opposite sides of the longitudi'nal'center' line of saidlazy tongs.

HAROLD H. MOHL.

